Docs: Sitting too long is bad for health

Experts: We move around 90% less than people 100 years ago

Many of us sit all day and don't get a chance to work out, and health experts said the combination of less exercise and sitting too much can have a serious effect on our heath.

Experts said people nowadays move around 90 percent less than our ancestors did a century ago. Many of us spend a lot of time sitting -- at work, at school, at home, in our cars -- but doctors said all that sitting can hurt your health.

"Definitely -- six hours or more is bad for you," said Mercy Medical Center's Dr. Jonathan Rich.

Rich doesn't sit at his desk. Instead, he works at a standing computer station for hours because he said it's healthier.

"What I'm concerned about is heart disease --it's a biggie. Sitting is a more sedentary lifestyle, so, depending on what you read, sometimes you may have two times the risk of having a heart attack," Rich said.

Besides heart disease, Rich said too much sitting can put people at risk for obesity, diabetes and musculo-skeletal problems.

"You're in the same position for an extended period of time, so some of those muscles will get very stiff, and some other muscles may atrophy," Rich said.

He said to use common sense and move around more to combat the problem.

"Choose to get up and walk around. If you need to send a message to a co-worker, instead of emailing the person, you can walk to their desk. You're building it into the day," Rich said. "Fidgeting is good. As long as they are sitting at a desk, just fidget."

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